Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an image unit that forms an image using a white toner and a color toner and a fixing unit that fixes the image to a medium with heat. The toner mass per unit area of the white toner ? (g/m2) in an image of the color toner superimposed on the white toner formed on paper used as the medium satisfies: 0.03+1.31×Rw?0.47×Rc+0.02×Gw?0.07×Gc???0.05+1.06×Rw+0.42×Rc?0.02×Gw+0.05×Gc where Rw is the average particle diameter (?m) of the white toner, Rc is the average particle diameter (?m) of the color toner, Gw is the storage modulus (kPa) of the white toner at 120° C., and Gc is the storage modulus (kPa) of the color toner at 120° C.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to selectively form a toner image on an image bearing member using a developing device including a decolorizable toner or a developing device including an undecolorizable toner, a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image, which is formed on the image bearing member, onto a transfer material, and a fixing portion configured to fix the toner image, which is transferred by the transfer portion, on the transfer material. The undecolorizable toner has at least a fixing temperature range in a range equal to or higher than a fixing temperature lower limit of the decolorizable toner and lower than decoloring temperature of the decolorizable toner.

Abstract: Provided is a full color image forming method wherein high color reproducibility especially on a blue system and a green system can be obtained and an excellent gradation property can be obtained in a full color image to be obtained. The full color image forming method for forming a full color image by using at least yellow toner, magenta toner, and two kinds of cyan toners (1, 2) is characterized in that a toner image formed by the cyan toner (1) alone has the value of the maximum color saturation (C*) of not less than 50 and the value of lightness (L*) in a color space represented by an L*a*b* colorimetric system of not less than 30 and not more than 52, and that a toner image formed by the cyan toner (2) alone has the value of the maximum color saturation (C*) of not less than 50 and the value of the lightness (L*) in the color space represented by the L*a*b* colorimetric system of not less than 58 and not more than 75.

Abstract: A developer supplier for supplying a developer to each of a plurality of developing devices, includes a plurality of developer supplying units each configured to supply a developer in which a toner and a carrier are preliminarily dispersed at a given concentration to each of the plurality of developing devices. A proportion of the carrier included in the developer which is supplied to one of the plurality of developing devices is set so as to be greater than a proportion of the carrier included in the developer which is supplied to the another one of the plurality of developing devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image-forming material that contains a colored pigment and a second image-forming material that contains the colored pigment having a concentration lower than that of the first image-forming material, a first image forming unit that forms a code image representing encoded information on a recording medium using the second image-forming material, and a second image forming unit that forms a non-code image at a position other than the position of the code image on the recording medium using an image-forming material other than the second image-forming material.

Abstract: A toner-image detecting sensor for detecting a toner image before being transferred onto a recording sheet and a fixed-image detecting sensor for detecting the toner image after being secondarily transferred and fixed on the recording sheet are arranged so that the positions of them in a main scanning corresponding direction are aligned. An image forming apparatus has a first image adjustment mode and a second image adjustment mode. In the first image adjustment mode, image adjustment is made on the basis of only a result of detection by the toner-image detecting sensor without transferring the test pattern onto the recording sheet. In the second image adjustment mode, the test pattern is transferred onto the recording sheet, and image adjustment is made on the basis of both a result of detection by the toner-image detecting sensor and a result of detection by the fixed-image detecting sensor.

Abstract: Provided are a toner containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, the toner having a specific hue angle and an absorbance at a specific wavelength in reflectance spectrophotometry, and a full-color image-forming method involving the use of the toner, the method including the steps of: forming an electrostatic image on a charged electrostatic image bearing member; developing the formed electrostatic image with the toner to form a toner image; transferring the formed toner image onto a transfer material; and fixing the transferred toner image to the transfer material to form a fixed image.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a first image forming unit, a second image forming unit and a processing unit. The first image forming unit forms an image using an erasable image forming material. The second image forming unit forms an image using an inerasable image forming material. The processing unit forms an image to be printed using an erasable image forming material with the first image forming unit, and forms a specific pattern for duplication prevention using an inerasable image forming material with the second image forming unit.

Abstract: A composite color toner image can be enhanced in a printed receiver material by having a separate fluorescing magenta toner image applied over it to provide a “pinkish” fluorescing effect. This separate fluorescing magenta toner image is obtained using visible fluorescing dry magenta toner particles, each of which has a polymeric binder phase and a visible fluorescing colorant that emits at one or more peak wavelengths of from 510 nm and to and including 590 nm. The covering power of the fused visible fluorescing magenta toner particles in the enhanced composite color toner image is at least 350 cm2/g to and including 1100 cm2/g, and the covering power of each of the non-fluorescing cyan, non-fluorescing yellow, non-fluorescing magenta, and non-fluorescing black toner particles in the enhanced composite color toner image is at least 1500 cm2/g to and including 2300 cm2/g.

Abstract: A problem that setting (setting the kind of a paper or a printout method) for achieving the print effect (gloss effect or matte effect) at a maximum is very complicated and therefore, a manual setting thereof by a user is very difficult. When image data which a user desires to print and a desire for a print effect to transparent form image data are input, the paper type, conversion of the transparent form image data and a printout method for realizing the print effect are automatically set and printed out.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of optical scanning devices, a job receiver, a job executor, an image discriminator for discriminating whether a formation-target image included in an image forming job is a single-color image or a multi-color image, a first condition judger, a second condition judger and a temperature adjuster. In the case of forming a single-color image, the temperature adjuster drives motors of all the optical scanning devices if a predetermined first condition and a predetermined second condition are satisfied and drives the motor of one optical scanning device and does not drive the motors of the other optical scanning devices but the one optical scanning device if the first condition is satisfied, but the second condition is not satisfied.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for manufacturing patterned porous substrates with hidden color patterns by forming hydrophobic patterns on a hydrophilic surface, wherein structural channels are formed as a pattern in a porous substrate using a hydrophobic printing solution lacking colorant, and wherein a colored area is applied on the rear surface of the porous substrate. Further, the present invention concerns said patterned porous substrate and a method for bringing said pattern into a visible state.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a plurality of developing devices, and a plurality of sloping members disposed in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of developing devices. Each developing device includes a developer accommodating chamber and a developing roller disposed above the developer accommodating chamber. Each developing device is movable between a first position and a second position lower than the first position in a height direction generally parallel to a vertical direction. Each sloping member has a sloped surface movable in the height direction and a biasing member biasing the sloped surface upward in the height direction. Each sloping member is movable between a third position where the corresponding developing device is placed on the sloped surface and a fourth position where the corresponding developing device is released from being pressed by the sloped surface in a predetermined direction generally perpendicular to the vertical direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part to form an image with one of a color unerasable developer and a color erasable developer, and a control part to automatically select the color erasable developer when test printing is selected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which is configured to form an image with developer of a plurality of colors on a sheet-type recording medium by a non-magnetic single component developing method. The image forming apparatus includes a first color developing unit which is configured to perform developing of a first color by a jumping developing method, and a second color developing unit which is configured to perform developing of the second color by a contact developing method.

Abstract: A method for producing a raised print using a three-component printer includes receiving image data and height data for an image to be printed, the height data specifying that raised printing should be produced in a non-yellow region of the image data. Separation data are determined for a yellow toner and two additional colored toners. The yellow separation data is determined based on the image data and the height data. The yellow separation and at least one of the colored separations specify that respective toners be deposited one atop the other in the non-yellow region. The two additional colored toners include respective amounts of black colorant. Using the printer with exactly three printing modules, respective toner images are deposited on the receiver, each corresponding to respective separation data. The deposited toner is fixed to the receiver.

Abstract: When an unfixed toner image is formed on a recording material, a maximum toner amount per unit area satisfies A<(??L)/30?3, where a specific gravity of a toner is ? (g/cm3), a weight-average particle size is L (?m), and the toner amount per unit area of the unfixed toner image on the recording material is A (mg/cm2), in formation of the unfixed toner image with each color toner, and the unfixed toner image is fixed so that a region where colors of chromatic toners of respective colors in the above-described images are seen in an overlaid state is 84% or more.

Abstract: A toner image forming device includes a first toner image forming section including a charged first image holding member, a first exposing unit that emits light onto the first image holding member to form a latent image thereon, and a first developing unit that develops the latent image by a black toner to form a toner image, a second toner image forming section including a charged second image holding member, a second exposing unit that emits light onto the second image holding member to form a latent image thereon, and a second developing unit that develops the latent image by a toner of color other than black to form a toner image, and a controller that performs control so that the number of toners that the second toner image forming section uses is larger than the number of toners that the first toner image forming section uses.

Abstract: Methods for printing are provided. In one aspect, the method includes providing a primary imaging member having engine pixel locations with a ratio modulated difference of potentials, establishing a first development difference of potential to form a first net development difference of potential between the first development difference of potential and the engine pixel location and providing a first charged toner such that the second toner develops at the engine pixel location. Establishing a second development difference of potential that is greater than the first difference of potential proximate the engine pixel location such that a determined amount of first toner develops at the engine pixel locations according to a second net development difference of potential. Wherein the range of second toner potentials is such that a determined range of ratios of second toner amounts and the determined first toner amount provide ratio modulated differences of potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes detecting means for detecting a temperature of a recording material on which a non-transparent toner image is heat-fixed; transparent image forming means for effecting image formation by transparent toner on the basis of transparent image data; a heating device for heating the transparent toner image formed by the transparent image forming means; and correcting means for correcting an amount, per unit area, of the transparent toner which is deposited on the non-transparent toner image fixed on the recording material, by the transparent image forming means in accordance with a temperature detected by the detecting means.

Abstract: Provided is a toner set including at least a first brilliant toner that contains a brilliant pigment, and a second brilliant toner that contains a brilliant pigment and exhibits a different color from the first brilliant toner.

Abstract: A method and system for printing documents with one or more embedded security features is provided. Security features are embedded in the document by co-printing magnetic and non-magnetic toner on a receiver before fixation by a fixing station. The combination of magnetic and non-magnetic toners in the image results in image elements that easily show alteration or are undetectable by visual means.

Abstract: A tandem type photosensitive unit includes: a plurality of photosensitive drums arranged in parallel with one another; a first structure member having a side surface extending in an arrangement direction of the photosensitive drums as viewed from an axial direction of the photosensitive drums for collectively retaining the plurality of photosensitive drums and relatively positioning the plurality of photosensitive drums; and a second structure member having a side surface extending in the arrangement direction as viewed from the axial direction for collectively retaining developer cartridges provided correspondingly to the photosensitive drums respectively. The first structure member is fixed to the second structure member on one side in the arrangement direction, and mounted on the second structure member with a clearance on the other side in the arrangement direction.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus in which one of developing units that respectively contain visible toners of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan other than the developing unit that contains the visible toner of black is replaced by a developing unit that contains a transparent fluorescent toner. Consequently, a document image can be expressed by the visible toner of black and a designated color which falls within a color reproduction range determined by two of the visible toners of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and an additional pattern which is an additional information image for preventing falsification and forgery can be printed on the document image with the use of the transparent fluorescent toner.

Abstract: An inverse mask image generating printer and printer module are provided. In one aspect, an inverse mask image generating module has an input adapted to receive the image data for an image to be printed said image data having color data for a first set of colors used in a first color model; an inverse mask image processor generating an inverse mask image using color data for one of the first set of colors; and an output providing the inverse mask image for use by a print engine. The inverse mask image is generated based upon the color data for a selected one of the first set of colors so that the inverse mask image can be generated without first determining color separation toner images that define amounts of color toner to be applied to form the elements of the image.

Abstract: Electrographic printing of one or more multi-channeled layers produces a specialty item. Such electrographic printing includes forming a desired print image, electrographically, on a receiver member utilizing predetermined sized marking particles; and, where desired, forming one or more final multi-channeled layers utilizing marking particles of a predetermined size or size distribution.

Abstract: Fluorescing highlights can be provided in selected portions of non-color image areas of a printed toner image using fluorescing dry toner particles, such as fluorescing magenta and fluorescing yellow dry toner particles. Before fixing, each fluorescing dry toner particle comprises a polymeric binder phase and a fluorescing colorant that emits at one or more ?max wavelengths of at least 420 nm and up to and including 690 nm and that is dispersed within the polymeric binder phase.

Abstract: A composite color toner image can be enhanced by applying a separate fluorescing toner image over it to provide an enhanced color toner image having a “pinkish” fluorescing effect. This separate fluorescing toner image is obtained using visible fluorescing dry magenta toner particles. Each of these toner particles consists essentially of a polymeric binder phase and a visible fluorescing colorant that emits at one or more peak wavelengths of at least 510 nm and up to and including 590 nm and that is dispersed within the polymeric binder phase.

Abstract: Fluorescing highlights can be provided in selected portions of non-color image areas of a printed toner image using fluorescing dry toner particles, such as fluorescing magenta and fluorescing yellow dry toner particles. Before fixing, each fluorescing dry toner particle comprises a polymeric binder phase and a fluorescing colorant that emits at one or more ?max wavelengths of at least 420 nm and up to and including 690 nm and that is dispersed within the polymeric binder phase.

Abstract: Various methods, devices and techniques for improving image quality for an image forming device are disclosed. For example, improved image quality can be had for an image forming apparatus having a first image forming unit including a first image carrier and a first developer carrier in contact with the first image carrier at a first pressure, and the first image carrier carries a first developer having a first charging characteristic, and a second image forming unit including a second image carrier, and a second developer carrier in contact with the second image carrier at a second pressure, greater than the first pressure, and the second developer carrier carries a second developer having a second charging characteristic. The first pressure and the second pressure are preset based on the first charging characteristic and the second charging characteristic.

Abstract: A method and system for printing image documents using a variety of toners where some toners using a multi-development station having two or more development stations. These toners are co-printed prior to fixing, on the receiver by the multi-development station.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first print engine and a second print engine. The first print engine forms a first image formed of a first toner having a first average diameter. The first image is transferred onto a recording medium. The second print engine forms a second image formed of a second toner having a second average diameter larger than the first average diameter. The second image is transferred onto the first image in registration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming portion for forming a developer image, said first image forming portion including a first image supporting member for forming a static latent image and a first developing member for attaching developer to the static latent image; a second image forming portion for forming a developer image, said second image forming portion including a second image supporting member for forming a static latent image and a second developing member for attaching developer to the static latent image; a transfer portion for transferring the developer image to a printing medium; and a fixing unit for fixing the developer image to the printing medium. The second developing member has a surface roughness greater than that of the first developing member. The fixing unit is disposed at a position closer to the first image forming portion relative to the second image forming portion.

Abstract: A transparent toner includes toner particles having a volume average particle diameter in the range of 18 ?m to 28 ?m, and satisfying formulae (1) and (2): 0.1?Ntb/Nta×100?2.5??(1) 0?Ntc/Nta×100?1.0??(2) Nta is the number of particles under the measurement conditions satisfying 0.5 ?m?circle-equivalent diameter?200 ?m, and 0.40?circularity?1.00; Ntb is the number of particles under the measurement conditions satisfying 0.5×Dta (?m)?circle-equivalent diameter?2.5×Dta (?m), and 0.60?circularity?0.90; and Ntc is the number of particles under the measurement conditions satisfying 2.5×Dta (?m)?circle-equivalent diameter?200 ?m, and 0.40?circularity?1.00; Dta is the average circle-equivalent diameter under the measurement conditions satisfying 0.5 ?m?circle-equivalent diameter?200 ?m, and 0.40?circularity?1.00.

Abstract: A problem that setting (setting the kind of a paper or a printout method) for achieving the print effect (gloss effect or matte effect) at a maximum is very complicated and therefore, a manual setting thereof by a user is very difficult. When image data which a user desires to print and a desire for a print effect to transparent form image data are input, the paper type, conversion of the transparent form image data and a printout method for realizing the print effect are automatically set and printed out.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having a color developing device and a transparent developing device the triboelectric chargeability of the transparent toner by a developer carrying member provided in the transparent developing device is made higher than a triboelectric chargeability of a color toner by a developer carrying member provided in the color developing device.

Abstract: A first image forming unit includes a first developing unit that develops a latent image, and a second image forming unit includes a second developing unit that develops a latent image. A transfer unit transfers an image formed by at least one of the first and second image forming units onto a recording medium. A controller performs control to form a transfer image on the recording medium through at least one of a first operation and a second operation. In the first operation, images formed by the first and second image forming units are transferred onto the recording medium as transfer images. In the second operation, the image formed by the first image forming unit is transferred onto the recording medium as a transfer image. A stopping unit stops operation of the second developing unit when the number of transfer images formed through the second operation reaches a preset value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier, a first developing unit, a second developing unit, a transfer unit, a removing member, and a fixing unit. An average circularity of particles having an average particle diameter of no less than 100 nm and no more than 300 nm among particles included in a second external additive is less than an average circularity of particles having an average particle diameter of no less than 100 nm and no more than 300 nm among particles included in a first external additive.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first development unit, a second development unit, and a control unit. The first development unit forms a first developer image with a first developer absorbing a light having a prescribed wavelength. The second development unit forms a second developer image with a second developer permeating the light having prescribed wavelength therethrough. The control unit controls print of a background design image by the first development unit and print of a print image by the second development unit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a developing device in which a decolorizable developing agent containing encapsulated colorant microparticles each including a core containing a color developable compound, a color developer, and a decolorizing agent is accommodated and a developing device in which a transparent developing agent containing a binder resin is accommodated are provided, respectively, and an image is formed by transferring a transparent developing agent image onto a region capable of covering a decolorizable developing agent image, followed by fusing the image. Further, in the second image formation and thereafter, the using amount of the transparent developing agent is decreased as compared with that in the first image formation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of housing units that houses toners of mutually different colors, at least one toner inside of the plurality of housing units being to be used for forming a toner image on a recording medium; and a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image on the recording medium to the recording medium, wherein a housing unit among the plurality of housing units that houses a toner with a lowest peak temperature of loss elastic modulus is disposed in a portion with a lower temperature than a temperature of a portion where another housing unit is disposed, or in a position farther from the fixing unit than a portion where another housing unit is disposed.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a developing device unit including a plurality of developing devices, and a plurality of sloping members disposed in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of developing devices. Each developing device includes a developing roller defining an axis line and a developer accommodating chamber. Each developing device is movable in a first direction perpendicular to the axis line. Each sloping member has a sloped surface and a biasing member biasing the sloped surface upward in the first direction. Each sloping member is movable between a first position where the developing device is placed on the sloped surface and a second position where the developing device is disengaged from the sloped surface in a predetermined direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes image carrying members aligned in a first direction in a main casing, one of the image carrying members being for black color, and remaining ones of the image carrying members being for other colors; a developing members provided in one-to-one correspondence with the image carrying members, each of the developing members configured to contact a corresponding image carrying member, one of the developing members being for black color, and remaining ones of the developing members being for other colors r; and a first contact/separation member linearly movable in the first direction, the first contact/separation member being disposed on one side of the plurality of developing members. The first contact/separation member comprises an elongated shape in the first direction. The first contact/separation member comprises a separating surfaces configured to contact respective developing members to separate the developing member from the image carrying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor drum, a charging part, an exposure unit, a developing part which feeds a photoreactive toner, a color formation exposure part, a transfer part, a recording medium feeding part, a fixing part, and a control unit part which controls operations of the above elements. The control unit part controls such that a photoreactive toner processed so as not to develop a color is transferred to a recording medium having transferred or fixed thereto a toner image processed so as to develop a color, and a photoreactive toner processed so as not to develop a color is fixed to an image formed on the recording medium, thereby forming a transparent toner coat layer which is a colorless and transparent toner layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a casing, and a plurality of image carriers arranged in parallel along one direction in the casing and formed with an electrostatic latent image. The apparatus can further include a plurality of developing agent carriers opposed to the image carriers, for visualizing the electrostatic latent image by feeding a developing agent to the image carriers, and a plurality of developing agent cartridges, arranged in parallel in the one direction to be opposed to the developing agent carriers in the longitudinal direction of the developing agent carriers, and configured to be together attachable/detachable to/from the casing along the one direction, for accommodating the developing agent fed to the developing agent carriers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit configured to form a white developer image on a recording medium using a white developer, at least one second image forming unit configured to form at least one single-color developer image on the recording medium using at least one single-color developer other than the white developer, and a fixing unit configured to fix the white developer image and the at least one single-color developer image to the recording medium so as to form a white image and at least one single-color image. A haze value of the white image is higher than a haze value of each of the at least one single-color image.

Abstract: A method of forming a clear toner overcoat or a colored toner image on a substrate is disclosed. The overcoat or colored image provides antibacterial and antifungal protection. The method includes providing a source of toner having a mixture of polymer agent and a silver salt biocide including a silver sulfate biocide having a concentration range of 0.0005 to 10 weight %, applying the clear toner or colored toner in an image wise fashion to a substrate, and fixing the clear or colored toner to the substrate whereby an effective coating or image is formed that provides antibacterial and antifungal protection.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material in the state that cartridge is detachably mounted to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising an opening; a cartridge supporting member linearly movable through the opening between an inside position, in the main assembly of the apparatus, for forming an image using the cartridge and an outside position which is outside the main assembly of the apparatus; retracting means for retracting the cartridge supporting member from a region in which the cartridge supporting member faces the opening, in the state that cartridge supporting member is in the outside position; and locking means for releasably locking the cartridge supporting member at the retracted position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes developing units designed to have an appropriate developer storage capacity in consideration of developer consumption, and improved convenience of use. The image forming apparatus also includes an image carrier, and plural developing units arranged along a rotating direction of the image carrier to supply developers to the image carrier. The plural developing units include a first developing unit having the largest developer storage capacity and a second developing unit having the second largest developer storage capacity after the first developing unit.

Abstract: An image forming device having a plurality of developing units is provided. The image forming device includes a control unit to determine whether to perform an auto color registration (ACR) with respect to one or more of the plurality of developing units, and a print engine unit to perform an ACR of the determined developing units.